I've seen clay sculptures with a pitted surface that I admire. I've read of things you can press into a clay surface to gain that look of antiquity, like rice or broken spaghetti. Can anyone suggest other materials that will burn out, but leave a more random, jagged appearance? I've read of people using dried clay bits, but would those fall out in the firing and leave pitted areas or would they simply stay in place? Jayne

Like Neil said, just about anything organic can be rolled in/burnished in/pressed in, then either removed or burned out. Other stuff I've used and liked (but it may HAVE to be removed before firing) includes rocks, onion bags, highly textured fabric, rope, stencils, old computer parts, scraps of packing material, old crochet doilies... your imagination is your only limit!

Like Neil said, just about anything organic can be rolled in/burnished in/pressed in, then either removed or burned out. Other stuff I've used and liked (but it may HAVE to be removed before firing) includes rocks, onion bags, highly textured fabric, rope, stencils, old computer parts, scraps of packing material, old crochet doilies... your imagination is your only limit!

Like Neil said, just about anything organic can be rolled in/burnished in/pressed in, then either removed or burned out. Other stuff I've used and liked (but it may HAVE to be removed before firing) includes rocks, onion bags, highly textured fabric, rope, stencils, old computer parts, scraps of packing material, old crochet doilies... your imagination is your only limit!

I wasn't really looking for items that provide patterned texture -- I have a drawer or two full of those! I've seen sculptural work that looks as if it has weathered for centuries and I wondered what items could be pushed into the clay to give a deeply pitted look. I read about one sculptor who used a power hose to blast his large clay sculptures with water and thus create an ancient weathered look. That is NOT an option in my little studio! (The idea does create some comical mental pictures, though!)
Thanks, Jayne

Like Neil said, just about anything organic can be rolled in/burnished in/pressed in, then either removed or burned out. Other stuff I've used and liked (but it may HAVE to be removed before firing) includes rocks, onion bags, highly textured fabric, rope, stencils, old computer parts, scraps of packing material, old crochet doilies... your imagination is your only limit!

Don't forget bullets. Very unpredictable.

Jim

You know what can be even better? The $100 bills. Like 5-6 of them to cover the whole vessel. Do not forget to put a couple inside, too.

Have you given any thought to using stiff bristled brushes that you could pounce the clay with. Cheap house painting, paint brushes 2" to 4" wide work nice. I find my texture brushes in the house cleaning section of the hardware store or where ever a store (grocery or Big Box) keeps the cleaning supplies. You have quite a bit of control over where and how much texture you want. I have even used an old paint brush used for painting the house or trim that wasnt rinsed out in time and has stiffened and split in clumps for interesting texture.